Maine

Winter in Maine brings WinterFest to Biddeford

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2024

Winter in Maine brings WinterFest to Biddeford

It’s winter in Biddeford in February and that can only mean one thing, it’s time for the annual Biddeford WinterFest — a cabin-fever busting weekend of snow and fun-filled events taking place Feb. 9-11. For 11 years, local organizations and the City of Biddeford have partnered to host outdoor fun and special performances during a time of year when the cold weather tends to keep people indoors at home.

The idea for WinterFest started when then-Mayor Alan Casavant and long-time community volunteer John Maxson decided to build a sledding hill in the center of downtown in 2012. Eleven years later, hundreds of people put on their snow suits for the main event in City Square each February.

With unpredictable weather, the planning committee pledges that it will be a “snow or shine” event. Local contractors volunteer to deliver snow in dump trucks from various spots in town. But even if conditions change, there will be loads of family-friendly activities and entertainment in City Square on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Main Stage performances will include Nine Tigers Kung Fu, Dance House Productions, Biddeford High School’s cast of “Cinderella”, and the Biddeford High School choir. Local restaurants donate pizza to the festival and this year there will be a “Best of WinterFest” pizza contest featuring Biddeford’s new mayor, Martin Grohman, and Kelly Towle, co-host of the Blake Show on Coast 93.1, as judges. There will be Touch-a-Truck, pony rides, and Common Roots Studio’s Art Bus providing entertainment throughout the day. The annual WinterFest Raffle will be back this year at 12:30 p.m. Walmart has donated kid’s bikes and adults can win gift certificates to local businesses.

Local sponsors help make Saturday a free, family-friendly event. Larry Patoine has been part of WinterFest planning from the start. “We keep it free, because it’s for the kids. We meet for months in advance, and I always remind the committee: this is for the kids.” New Life Church is on hand all day distributing hats and mittens made by church members, and they’ll serve free hot dogs and hamburgers in between the pizza deliveries.

The annual Adult Sledding Party, co-sponsored by Heart of Biddeford and Blaze Brewing Co, takes place in City Square on Friday night, Feb. 9 from 6-8 p.m. to kick-off WinterFest. Purchase of a $15 ticket on Eventbrite comes with a Blaze Brewing beverage, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. After sledding, local venues such as Lucky Pigeon Brewing Co, Champions Sports Bar, the Pint & Pawn, and the Dunn Bar are offering $1 off discounts to adults who show their sledding ticket.

For adults who are looking for other entertainment out on the town, City Theater is a featured location for WinterFest with performances on Friday and Saturday night. Tickets are for sale on the City Theater website for Friday night’s “Classic Rock Orchestra,” a six-piece rock band bringing you unforgettable hits. Then, Saturday night features Comedian Juston McKinney. A former Biddeford native and City Theater favorite, McKinney returns with lots of new material. He has multiple appearances on the “Tonight Show,” “Conan O’Brien,” and specials on Comedy Central.

The West Brook skating rink on Pool Street will be open for free skating and rentals on Sunday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information and to stay updated on event details, visit https://biddefordwinterfest.org

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Maine

Maine veterans find closure, connection on Honor Flight to D.C.

Published

6 hours ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Maine veterans find closure, connection on Honor Flight to D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WABI) – Maine veterans returned home Sunday after a weekend in Washington, D.C.

Giving local veterans and their loved ones a visit to the capital of the nation they dedicated their lives to is the aim of Honor Flight Maine.

Marking their second trip of the year, the nonprofit provided about 70 Pine Tree State veterans a free trip to Washington to visit the memorials and monuments dedicated to their service.

For many, this was this first time seeing the capital in person.

“Unreal,” “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” and “tear-dropping” were among the sentiments shared by veterans about the Honor Flight. Others remarked on the memories revived by visiting the ceremonial spaces.

“I have some friends that’s over there, so it really was nice,” said Edward Lee, a Vietnam veteran from Bangor.

Lee was able to find one friend’s name engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Using graphite and a piece of paper, he made a rubbing of the name to take home.

Rose Marie Curtis, a Navy nurse who served in Vietnam, said seeing the three nurses depicted at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial sent her back in time.

“For so many years, you don’t think about something. You’re doing this and doing that and having children, whatever. But this really brings you back,” Curtis described.

Not only does the trip give veterans the opportunity to see these sites, it allows a chance to connect; with perhaps a past or present self, and with fellow veterans.

“It’s what makes Honor Flight Maine special because you’re with your own kind,” explained Charlie Paul, a Vietnam War veteran who has been involved with Honor Flight Maine for a decade. “We’re a segment of society, they remember us on Memorial Day. They remember us on Veteran’s Day. They remember us on Armed Forces Day. But then they forget about us. And so for us as an organization to take them down here and see their memorials, it just lets them know they’re that special.”

For Lincoln veteran Richard Rollins, the visit gave him “closure,” considering, “…when I got out of the service, I mean, to be honest, even in ’79, I was never thanked.”

Among former servicemembers of all ages, father-son veterans James and Michael Sherman said the trip opened up conversation, sharing stories they had never told each other about their service.

“It means the world that people care, and we shouldn’t wait a moment to tell the people that are important to us what they mean to us,” Michael Sherman remarked.

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Maine

Car catches fire on Maine Turnpike in Kennebunk

Published

16 hours ago

May 31, 2026

Press Room

Car catches fire on Maine Turnpike in Kennebunk

KENNEBUNK, Maine (WGME) — A car caught on fire on the Maine turnpike Saturday.

It happened in Kennebunk in the southbound lanes of the turnpike.

A car caught on fire on the Maine turnpike Saturday. (Courtesy of Kennebunk Fire Rescue)

You can see a large cloud of black smoke coming from the scene.

Nobody was hurt.

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Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames.

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Maine

In Maine governor’s race, connection is preferable to cronyism | Letter

Published

1 day ago

May 31, 2026

Press Room

In Maine governor’s race, connection is preferable to cronyism | Letter

After Maine’s first Democratic gubernatorial debate, I commented that the candidates seemed to be vying with each other to be agreeable. Would it last? Back then, I thought I’d be happy with any of them as Maine’s next governor.

Not so now, as I observe the cronyism of Shenna Bellows, Troy Jackson and Hannah Pingree, whose plan to rank each other when they vote provides a blueprint for gaming the ranked-choice voting system in the primary. The political insiders are forming an alliance against the outsiders, Nirav Shah and Angus King III.

Shah’s campaign responded that it would stay focused on winning voters’ support, a more principled approach, in my estimation.

I prefer a governor who listens and learns from his constituents over one experienced at alliances and deal-making. I want integrity and leadership, not manipulation and exclusion.

I no longer believe that Bellows, Jackson or Pingree would make a good governor.

Moriah Freeman
Brunswick

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